While in the pose, find balance by maintaining mountain pose alignment. Squeeze your glutes and engage your left quad muscle. Engage your abs and lengthen your spine. Keep your shoulders pressed down away from the ears. To help with balance, press your right foot into the left inner thigh with the same effort as the inner thigh presses into the foot.
Like any sport, yoga requires a specific understanding of technique. It takes focus and attention to set up a yoga pose correctly, work within the pose, and then safely move out of it. Yoga instructors typically use the term “alignment” when referring to form. Correct alignment is when your bones are stacked and stable. This prevents injury because the muscles are working with the bone structure, rather than being pulled too much in one direction or another. When the muscles and bones are in correct alignment, you can typically go deeper into the pose without fear of injury, breathe more deeply, and receive more benefits from the posture. The 15 yoga videos for beginners below will help you achieve proper alignment in each pose so you can start feeling like a yoga pro in no time.
While it was tough to find the routine I wanted on Yoga Journal, I kept coming back to the site for its invaluable 360-degree video explanations of different poses. Learning basic postures (called asanas) quickly made me more comfortable and confident in my practice. You’ll pick them up as you go, but if you prefer to study ahead of time, you can use Yoga Journal to learn these poses:
I was introduced to the B Mat recently by Halfmoon Yoga Products. I have to say I am very impressed! The B Mat is made of 100% rubber (both natural and synthetic), without using harsh chemicals, finishes or sealants. It feels durable, is surprisingly light and has incredible grip in both wet and dry conditions. The surface is a pleasant texture, and the sturdy rubber provides great padding under knees and elbows. It also isn't as heavy as other home practice mats with similar padding and durability. A solid all-around yoga mat!
Yoga for Dummies is a six-part series of 10-minute videos. Put them together, and you’ve got a great starter yoga class that eases you into your practice. West’s channel has dozens of videos to choose from. I’d recommend starting with her beginner playlist, especially Namaste Episode 101. The 11 videos on the playlist are some of the best explanations of poses that I’ve come across. And West’s personable nature will keep you coming back.

There’s a huge assortment of yoga mats in a range of colors, patterns, materials and sizes. This collection features printed yoga mats to show off your personal style while perfecting your asanas. Choose from thin exercise mats, standard thicknesses and extra-thick mats, which provide ample cushioning between your body and the floor. Whether you’re looking for a non-slip yoga mat, Pilates mat or a Nike® yoga mat, you’re sure to find a mat that suits your needs.

Over the years, I have tested mats from just about every well-established brand and many from lesser-known up-and-comers. I have watched technologies, materials and designs evolve to meet the needs of an ever growing number of yogis, and I have observed how brands have risen (or failed to rise) to the challenge of a more sustainable future. If you’re ever going to find that perfect mat for you, I can tell you there’s never been a better time than right now.
It’s best to clean your yoga mat at least once a week to prevent staining and buildup. Use water and gentle cleansers like lemon juice or dish soap, but avoid abrasive sponges. Wipe down excess moisture and let your mat dry away from direct sunlight or high temperatures, which can accelerate the breakdown of natural materials like rubber. When in doubt, check your mat manufacturer’s care guidelines.
This yoga video helps us see how authoritarianism slips into our world through our communities. It's a longer yoga set, but will help you understand and work with the authoritarian personality traits in you or your community. This video relies on the work of John Elmore, who can be heard discussing Passive Authoritarianism here: https://kpfa.org/episode/against-the-grain-june-4-2018/ *This video comes with free access to our introduction and warm-up videos.
My Foundations of Yoga series is built for beginners! Welcome friends and future yogis. The Foundational series is Instructional should not feel intimidating. It will get you on your mat and into your body while also preparing you for public classes local yoga opportunities. Whether you are looking to lose weight, tone the body or create more flexibility this series (most importantly) will help you to FIND WHAT FEELS good. It will connect you to yourself and serve as an invitation back to your true self. I invite you to hop on the mat and play. Let the process be about exploration and not about doing it perfect. I encourage you to leave comments and let me know how your experiments go. Even just 1 minute a day goes a long way!
Old Navy is your premier destination for yoga attire that works as well before and during your sessions as they do after. Build a reliable activewear rotation with this exclusive collection of yoga clothing, including yoga tops, yoga pants, sports bras, and stylish outerwear options so a chilly day doesn't have to keep you from your class. Experience the exceptional softness and wearability of these natural and synthetic fiber blends, specially selected for their durability and moisture wicking properties as well as wash and wear maintenance so they look great every time you reach for them. Every piece in this stock of versatile athleisure options is rendered in high quality dyes so their inspiring color palettes stand up long term, and shows off a performance inspired cut to keep you in comfort during your most intense workouts. Look and feel great with yoga clothes for women from Old Navy.
Sometimes you need more than a couple of minutes of stretching. That’s where Yin Yoga, a practice that involves holding poses for long periods of time (usually three to five minutes) comes in. Yogi Nora directs you through a series of poses—some of which involve a pillow, score!—with the goal of helping you to let go and find flexibility. (via Yogi Nora)
Experts say: "When you watch Tim's videos, his laid-back 'California' vibe truly shines through. People love him because his yoga videos are geared for both beginner and intermediate practitioners, and he'll also throw an advance yoga posture into the mix, which makes his videos more dynamic than other typical online classes. He always gives very specific instructions, too. When you watch Tim, you feel like you are getting more than just an online yoga class — you feel like you are getting to know the 'real Tim.'" — Serena Tom, Yoga Teacher, Equinox
Teeki Hot Pants: "These are amazing. Period. I buy Victoria's Secret leggings/yoga pants that really fade over time, show crotch sweat when I do cardio, lift, or even just wear them on a hot day with flip flops. Just my opinion, but I think the people that say these are overpriced are maybe expecting thicker material?? These come very thin and makes you think, wow - these were $100?? Here's the deal - this is one of the reasons WHY they are $100. They allow you to breathe, you cannot see sweat, and this material is not going to fade in washes, allowing them to last longer, rather than purchasing more leggings that fade and look old quickly. Ultimately saving money! They are stylish on top of that. I do not see that they're see through, but maybe it's because I don't wear full coverage "underware." Let's be honest here, that's just not smart in skin tight leggings, period. Wear a thong, problem solved. Again - I think they're fine. Size: I am 5'8, 160lbs, athletic. I lift weights/daily cardio. I purchased a large and they fit like a glove. Waistband comes to my belly button, and whoever said they sit too low might want to go a size up. They are thin, and another review said the were worried about ripping putting them on. I think they're very durable (another reason they're worth it - thin & durable), but I can understand the comment.